UBC OutLaws

The summer before 1L I was a big ball of emotions. I was excited by the prospect of studying law. I was nervous about the academics and whether I would be able to handle the workload.  Mostly, however, I carried lingering doubts about whether I would fit in, as a gay student in what I thought would be a very conservative school and profession.

I could not have been more wrong.

The UBC Faculty of Law is a very supportive environment for LGBTQ students. In my experience, classmates and faculty are supportive, and appreciate the diversity of views and experience you bring to the class. In addition, there are a number of opportunities – clubs, panels, and research – to engage with issues important to the queer community.

One way to get involved with the queer community at UBC as a 1L – whether you are gay, straight or find yourself somewhere in between – is to attend an OutLaws event. The club has a mandate to promote a queer-positive learning environment, and to raise awareness of issues impacting the larger queer community.

What does OutLaws do? We build up the queer community at UBC Law by organizing pub nights, dinners with the LGBTQ medical students group, and keep you up-to-date on queer events happening in the wider UBC and legal communities. We also host the well-attended “Cheers for Queers” nights, where queer and allied law faculty meet with OutLaws members for beer (or in my case, Diet Coke!).

On the more serious side, OutLaws organizes academic panels on issues related to the queer community. We also provide student input on events hosted by the Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference (SOGIC).  Not only is this a great way to learn about the law, but it also acts as a way to meet lawyers from around British Columbia.

I would encourage all law students to get involved with OutLaws. If you have any questions about OutLaws, or would like more information about the LGBTQ scene in Vancouver, feel free to email us at ubcoutlaws@gmail.com. In addition, be sure to look for the OutLaws event on the Orientation schedule!

This post was written by 2L Michael Alty, co-chair of UBC OutLaws. Stop by and say hi at Clubs Day (Thursday, September 6)!